I remember visiting SM Department Store with my cousin many years ago and ending up in the shoe section as I am wont to do. I was quite surprised and impressed with the assortment of shoes their house brand, Parisian had to offer. The styles were in keeping with trends and the price points were terrific! I love that the brand works hard to keep up with fast-paced fashion and now, they're taking it up a notch.

Rajo Laurel on his inspiration for the collection:

"I wanted to create a polarized collection—the paradox of juxtaposing pop culture and art. I love architecture and sculpture, and yet I cannot deny how pop culture influences me."

Here are the mood boards that he used for the collection!

With a limited edition of 6,000 pairs of shoes, Rajo! for Parisianpremieres with 14 gorgeous styles. This special collection will be available in only seven premiere branches of SM Department Store: SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM Makati, SM North Edsa, SM Cubao, SM Southmall and SM Cebu. With a price range of P 999.75 to P 2,199.75, the price points for this collection remain true to what Parisian stands for: high fashion made affordable.

Mr. Rajo Laurel and the awesome people behind Parisian were kind enough to give us the opportunity to give away ten tickets to attend the launch! As usual, I'd like to keep the mechanics as hassle-free as possible.

If you're already a follower on Bloglovin' or Google Friend Connect, then just click on this link and answer this quick survey. Winners will be picked at random. Good luck and see you there! :)

The Ramp is an amazing resource for all things fashion-related! Whenever I find myself needing an outfit on the fly, more often than not, I end up heading towards the direction of The Ramp to shift through its many racks for the perfect find. You can construct an entire outfit completely from Ramp merchandise!

I'm raving about this because on Saturday, we all get a chance to take a peek at what's in store for us at the store. I can't wait to catch the show at Philippine Fashion Week!

Fortunately, I have a handful of tickets to give away to all you Ramp fans out there! It's super simple and the first 10 people to respond correctly get two tickets to see the show.

Easy-peasy, right? Contest ends on Wednesday, 12 noon or as soon as 10 people get in touch with me (with correct brands). Winners will be contacted via e-mail or SMS and must claim their tickets at The Ramp office in Mandaluyong.

See you at the show! :)
edit: Congratulations to the first 10! I'll be emailing you the pick-up details shortly! :D

It was a warm day out so I tried to get away with this sando without looking like a douchebag. My tactic was to dress it up with chinos, a few accessories, and proper shoes.

D: Primark top, H&M shorts, Topshop earrings

Really easy and casual again, just a pair of lounge shorts and a light top to avoid sweating bullets.Ugh I think I'm definitely back in a slump and my heels need to start coming out of hibernation.

The horse print makes me happy. I love that she's in mid-gallop!

I'm really feeling this slipper shape that's been making its rounds in the shoe world. This white jaguar pair is from Jeffrey Campbell, purchased at SM Fashion Forum Megamall. I have yet to break it in so it chafes a bit but the leather is bound to soften soon enough! When they get to that point, I think they'll be the perfect pair to throw on whenever.

ODDS AND ENDS

P: Here's a random cheap thrill! Casio makes classic yet cheap watches of good quality. They aren't one of those disposable watch brands, by any means. I love that they still sell the retro styles in different variations. They're perfect when you need a casual watch that you won't cry over if dinged or dropped.

I got the bare bones version with the rubber strap and gold frame from SM for a song!

D: My random thing for this post was this service I got done at Piandre in San Juan. It was all the rage in the States a while back and I thought I'd get it done just for giggles. I love that Steven Tyler is their model haha!

(Pardon the crappy photos! Forgot the camera at home so we used P's iTouch instead.)

They have these feathers (which are actually really used as fishing bait) that they attach to the roots of your hair in the same manner as hair extensions.

There's a wide assortment of feathers available, both in different patterns and different colors. I wanted to get ones that looked like they came from an actual animal instead of the ones in primary colors.

After you pick out the feathers you want to use, they start prepping the feather locks and the thread they use to attach it to your head.

It takes around five minutes for them to attach it and you're all done! According to the stylist, Rian, these are pretty heavy duty. You can shampoo, condition, blow-dry, flat-iron as usual and the feathers stay firmly clamped on. She even said that hair-dye won't make a difference and you could even get caught in a cat fight without damaging them. That's kind of extreme, don't you think? Haha!

So here's the final product! I picked out two of the chevron-ish print ones and a plain blonde one for contrast. You can put them anywhere you want! Others opt to have them more low-key, behind their ears. So far, they are pretty resilient though I don't blow-dry or flat-iron. I've been having fun with them, especially at work where my preschoolers are fascinated with my "birdy hair!"

Last Monday, Fashion Forum in SM Megamall held a launch for their designer collection. This included brands like Adriana Papell, Ali Ro, David Meister, Donna Morgan, Donna Ricco, London Times, Maggy London, Max & Cleo, Miss Couture, and Taylor. They also carry everyone's favorite Jeffrey Campbell shoes, of course. The cocktails and fashion show were hosted by Ms. Daphne Osena-Paez. Before I show you my picks from the lot, here's what I wore to the event.

H&M blazer, vintage button-down, OS necklace, SM cuff

Thought I'd dress down since the event was in the mall. I wanted to be comfy enough to walk the long stretches of Megamall as well. The sheer, polka dot top is one of my favorite vintage finds. I love the contrast collar on it.

These ankle boots from H&M have been getting more play as of late. It's perfect for our pseudo-fall here in Manila.

EVENT

Fashion Forum offers a wide assortment of clothing to suit everyone's fashion needs. From daytime dresses in playful prints to chic, sophisticated, and tailored workwear, and glamorous evening wear with razzle-dazzle, they've got you covered. They also carry sizes 0 to 16, so everyone can enjoy the garments! True to SM's mantra, they've got it all for you!

Here are some of the dresses that beeped on my radar:

Watercolor floral dress for Fancy-Nancy lunches

Another bold floral print in a chic shape

Love this little red dress! The chain detail, the fabric, and the cut make for a chic number.

Cream tiered dress for a dinner or night-out

Prim lace dress with a not-so-prim scooped back

For all the body-con lovers out there

Asymmetrical lace mini-dress with peplum detail

This was my favorite of the lot! The detail is so flattering and the sharp shoulders are an interesting touch.

Muted tones on textured fabrics

More bright prints on simple cuts. These would be so easy to throw on and paired with sandals for a relaxed lunch or hemmed and with heels for a night out.

Scalloped, tiered dress with floral applique, also available in red

Love this bright blue color and pleat details on this dress!

Another one of my favorites! I love the graphic print and I might have to go back and check if they still have it in my size.

Don't forget to head on over to SM Megamall or SM Makati to spruce up your closets. They restock monthly and in very limited quantities so chances of bumping into doppelgangers are lower! See you all at Fashion Forum!

I like the alternating shades of blue on the sweater which is great for the rainy weather as well as the recent UAAP season games. I think the lone neon blue stripe just below the collar bone really adds interest to a lazy, old sweater.

D got me this belt from Primark. I guess it's like if a boat shoe gave birth to a belt this is what you would get and I think it's pretty cool!

D: Primark top, Pill cut-off shorts, Gold Dot wedges

Love this roomy top. It's so easy to throw on for lazy days and I really like how it drapes and flows.

The mullet-cut shirt packs a punch without having to be in a bright color too.

His (Aldo Accessories) and hers (Primark) tortoise shell sunglasses

BOOK ROLL

Just for kicks, we decided to show you our (mostly D's) latest reading material. Maybe you'll see something that piques your interest as well!

P: This is the perfect little manual to have in your collection so you never forget the fundamentals. From how a suit should fit to how to get a proper shave, this handbook will ensure that you have all your bases covered.

D: This is great for when you're feeling particularly visual because it is jam-packed with photos! All your favorite international bloggers contribute their own two cents on wardrobe ideas.

D: I've only read a few pages of this book but it seems like a great read! I only wish I had gotten the chance to read this before our trip to Paris because it has a list of Ines de la Fressange's favorite Parisian haunts that I would have loved to visit. I guess that's just gives me reason 923834 to go back!

D: This was actually my first time to read a James Patterson book and it was quite riveting! This was a fast-paced, page-turner with a sick twist at the end. A quick and easy read to go in between your heavier literature.

D: This is more of a young adult book which is equal parts dark, scary, and magical. Every few pages feature an array of twisted, vintage photographs which tie into the story. I was surprised at how much I loved this! The ending left me quite hungry for more so I hope the author churns out another one!

D: If you grew up reading the Sweet Valley series, then you're going to want to read this one. Things didn't exactly turn out the way I wanted for the Wakefield twins and the rest of the gang, but it was still closure we all were kind of looking for!

D: An absolute must-read. It's the kind of book you can't stop thinking about long after you've put it down. You can't help but empathize with the characters and lament on how humans can be so sick and twisted sometimes.

P: This book almost made me miss out on the nice French countryside as I was reading it on the train. You won't be able to stop reading this until the very end! Room took on a difficult topic and gave it a new voice and perspective.

D: Here's the book area I share with my younger brother! We're both voracious readers and most of our childhood books had to be stored in the attic so these are just what's in the current rotation.

What's on your bookshelf? We'd love to know what you're reading since we're always on the hunt for stellar books! Hope you can let us know!

FREE PANCAKE GIVEAWAY

Sorry for the delay, but better late than never, right? Using random.org, we did a quick raffle and...

the winner of the P1000 GCs from Flapjacks is Gaby!

She shares, "Waffles! I like how they're crunchy on the outside while still remaining soft on the inside, and how the little square pockets get filled up with syrup! So sinful!"

We couldn't agree more! Congratulations, Gaby! We'll be in touch with you soon. :)